It wasn’t the photo session that we had tried to schedule, but it worked.  They got the worn out photographer traveling home from an out of town shoot, but we were only looking for a few fun shots.  I think we got ‘em.  And, no one rolled in hidden dog poo either, always a plus!  I thought it would be fun to show Camp Kaywoodie (as they’re known by the loads of people who love them) their proofs from that day as a slideshow gallery here on the site.  So you’re seeing everything.  I even kept in some of the in between shots, the ones that are blurry.  To me, they have meaning too.  It’s kind of like real life, don’t you think?  Life is fast, life is full of these blurry, fleeting moments of squished noses from pressing our foreheads together with those we love, messy and unkept snippets that we wouldn’t trade for anything.  That’s what I’m after.  There’s no fancy background here, you see the neighborhood cars, bicycles, blah, blah.  Mostly, you see love.

Kari, I’m glad I happened by.  See you soon.

Kathi

3039 Text Slide 1 3040 3041 3043 3044 3045 3049 3052 3053 3054 3070 3071 3077 3083 3084 3085 3086 3088 3089 3090 3093 3097 3098 3099 3100 3103 3108 3109 3115 3120 3123 3126 3133 3134 3137 3149 3150 3153 3161 3168 Text Slide end Family in the Yellow Leaves Family in the yellow leaves

I take a limited number of weddings a year.  I have to say, each and every couple I’ve had the honor to work with have been incredible and we’ve remained friends, seeing each other here and there long after the wedding day is over.  How cool is that?  Cool!  And, for this slideshow, to honor my new friend Marty, I’ve decided to go with some of his favorite artists.  Sorry Sara, I love your favorites too, just had to make a choice and stick to it.  Actually Sara, I did sneak in a tad of Iron and Wine there at the very end:)

Thanks again Sara and Marty for ringing me up and choosing me be to your photographer!  Looking forward to photographing an anniversary session with you next year.

Kathi

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I won’t go into the entire coolest-love-story-ever, that is Mark and Linda here.  You can click on this link, to read the full blown and beautiful love story and reunion (as in 30 year high school reunion!), to freshen up on that.  I do, however, need to emphasize that every single person at this wedding was ready to scream and shout with joy when the minister pronounced this couple man and wife.  It was that moving, that meant to be, that refreshing, the kind of love that was ready to blaze a trail of a new life together.  Mark and Linda were together again!

This is more of an image rich posting, versus a wordy (sorry, I know I do that) posting, because I think the images speak for themselves.  It would be hard to miss the happiness, love and shear joy that prevailed on that day.  I was moved and so very flattered after sharing a gallery of these wedding images with the above mentioned, fantastic Sarah Ghazzagh, to read this message from her in my inbox:

“BRAVO! I was trying to wait to watch this until tomorrow, but I just couldn’t!  Your work evokes a degree of emotion that is difficult to articulate! WOW! Even if you didn’t know this couples really cool  backstory, you were able to communicate the message here with your work of the rich emotion that prevailed on that day! AWESOME! I cannot tell  you how moving this artistic pictorial experience was to watch tonight– a HUGE thank you! I honestly cant wait to work with you again!”

Mark and Linda, thank you for putting your trust into me.  Getting to know you and taking this journey with you has been a highlight of my life.  I’m really, really lucky and thank you for everything.  Especially our new friendship.

Much love, Kathi

Let’s go inside for some ‘getting ready’.  It always starts with the shoes.  Come on, I’m a girl, we dress from the feet up.  And, aren’t those fuchsia shoes amazing!

One of Linda’s dear friends approaches as she finishes up, with the help of her niece.

Um, can’t resist those shoes.

Gifts

Love and hugs with Mark’s beautiful daughter.  New family.

The men it would appear, had some figuring out to do.

They look great!

It’s show time folks.  Beautiful music and an Irish poem.

The bride’s brother gave her away.  I love his Top Hat!

The minister brought the rings out to Mark’s aunt and Linda’s mother for a blessing of the rings.  This was extremely moving to witness.  Watching these women, who mean so much to Mark and Linda, touching the rings that they would wear; pouring their love, hopes and dreams into them.  I loved that in the image of Linda’s mother, Barbara, you could see her wedding ring in the mix.  The ring Barbara still wears, her dear husband having passed.

They’re just a little bit happy!

The venue was exquisite.

I love that the wedding party is all about family.  Mark’s son and daughter stood up as best man and maid of honor, his brother a groomsmen & his niece the ring-bearer, and  Linda’s niece a bridesmaid.  Aren’t they gorgeous?

All the men, Linda’s brothers both represented here as well.  A little bit silly, but who cares anyway.

Mark and his beautiful children.  All grown up!

And, the bride and groom.

And, they’re introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Norton!  What a fabulous entrance to their reception.

A tad of explanation on these next shots.  I wanted to take some photos of Linda’s nephews.  For one, they’re handsome and just really nice young men.  Mainly though, we wanted to photograph them in their suits with those special neckties on.  Those neckties belonged to their grandpa, Linda’s father.  In fact, so did their shoes.  They were honoring their grandpa’s presence and wearing those ties and his shoes.  Amazing, the shoes fit.  In fact, you’ll see in the following shots, their dad, Linda’s brother is also sporting a special tie.  Yep, his father’s tie.  And then, they all get just silly and decide to totally rock the Top Hat!

See what I mean?

The first dance.

The bride and her way fun momma.  Then, the rest of the fun.  Thanks folks, it was great!

]]> http://kathicookphotography.com/white-house-inn-spa-wedding-napa-valley-california-mark-linda/feed/ 1 http://kathicookphotography.com/last-day-of-school-longboards-its-personnel/ http://kathicookphotography.com/last-day-of-school-longboards-its-personnel/#comments Thu, 09 Jun 2011 21:15:58 +0000 admin http://kathicookphotography.com/?p=1642 It’s the last day of school, the sun finally came out here in Northern California, let Summer begin, yahoo!  In short, it’s a beautiful day in many ways.  Both of my boys are on my mind today.  One, finishing up his first year of high school, and wow, that was an adjustment for this mom, but it was all good.  Really, really.  No worries you other moms of incoming freshman, they’re way more ready than we sometimes give them credit for.  We probably all realize that it’s more like, are we ready?  Sure, it’s new territory for all us; but they’ve been prepped by their awesome teachers, support from old and new friends, and most of all, the foundation we have done our best to give them as parents.  It’s been a very good year. My youngest son, well, he’s moving into his last year of Middle School.  And, that’s mostly who this post is about.  He actually asked me to blog these pictures today, wow!  Now-a-days, they don’t let you post hardly any pictures of them.  They’ve got their own online thing going!

This young man found a passion this past year and it’s called Longboarding.  Honestly, I didn’t know the difference between skateboarding and longboarding, but now I do!  It all started earlier in the year when our neighbor of many years decided to give my son a vintage longboard.  A totally cool Sector 9!  It’s more like a surf board!  Anyhow, it was all over from there, in a good way.  I have a whole new point of view on skateboarding, longboarding and that whole culture.  In short, I love it!  On the whole, these kids are not a bunch of unmotivated, up to no good, irritating kids some adults might think they are.  For us, it’s been such a positive experience.  My son has found a whole new group of super nice friends he gets together with.  They spend hours outdoors finding new roads, hills and really fun places to ride their boards, learn new tricks, turns and maneuvering these high-tech planks with great skill.  They make videos, they learn new woodworking skills and team together to try their hand at making boards themselves.  And, they’re very good at it!  This last part, I didn’t expect at all.  His grades went up!  Through finding this passion, came a new drive and focus.  Not just for the sport, but refining his scholastic skills as well.  Wow, pretty cool.  We saw improvement all the around.  There was less ‘sassiness’ and just an overall evening out and maturity across the board.  We also discovered this amazing store in our neighboring town of Sonoma, Sonoma Old School.  This place is so much fun!  Rob, the owner, couldn’t be nicer.  He’s really got some  special recipe going there.  You just feel good when you walk in the door.  My son has even asked if when he’s old enough to get a work permit if he can ride his bike there to work!  Uh, that’s a very long bike ride dude!

So, congratulations on a really good year, my sons.  And Evan, good job dude!

Let’s start where it all began, the Sector 9.  Thanks, Jeffrey, you rock.

There was a very cool Gravity board before this one, but oh my gosh, when the Evo came to town!  Landyachtz, well, they are awesome, don’t you know?  Our first of many purchases at Sonoma Old School.

And then, just the other day, we went over and got some new trucks, wheels and bearings.  OK, even I can see that those bearings are amazing!   Those wheels look like they’re on fire with the light shining through them when he’s on a hill.  And oh man, they are SO smooth.  Construction stage here.  The Evo gets new product.  Uh, after my young man ‘wears’ his wheels first.

Now we’re ready to roll, after this close up of the new product.

The maiden voyage.

Just in case you’re wondering what Rob, of Sonoma Old School looks like.  One of his employees made this custom board for him.  Yeah, he’s that cool.  And, check out his awesome rewards policy below for good grades.  Rob, we so appreciate you and Sonoma Old School.  Thanks so much!

]]> http://kathicookphotography.com/last-day-of-school-longboards-its-personnel/feed/ 3 http://kathicookphotography.com/high-school-senior-portraits/ http://kathicookphotography.com/high-school-senior-portraits/#comments Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:05:32 +0000 admin http://kathicookphotography.com/?p=1619 And just like that, they’re all grown up.  Claudia was no ordinary senior/teen for me to photograph.  I have been photographing Claudia and her younger sister, Clara, since they were in 2nd and 5th grades.  I have such a library of images of these girls year, after year.  I love them both.  I love their parents.  I love that they keep coming back each year and honor me, with the gift of photographing (and hanging out with) their beautiful girls.  This is all about Claudia, as she’s making her grand exit from High School, but I had to put a single image of her equally beautiful sister, Clara, at the end of the post, well, just because I had to.   Also, Claudia is not a girl who feels like ‘it’s all about me’.  She really didn’t even want a Senior Session all to herself.  This is from our annual photo session, but knowing that it was her senior year, we did a little extra with just Claudia.

Claudia and her sister are so sweet, talented and really, really fun.  Last year when I photographed the girls, we almost had to call off the shoot because we were laughing so much, I almost couldn’t gain my composure to continue.  Clara started with the giggles, then Claudia, then me.  It was hilarious!  I was tearing up and could barely see.

It’s been so amazing to watch Claudia grow up, follow her interests and talents in various areas, such as; dance and early childhood.  She is amazing with children.  I was so bummed recently that I had a conflict with one of her dance performances and wasn’t able to go.  But I was delighted to be invited.

As I was putting this post together, I came across this email message from her aunt:  “I simply wanted to let you know how very much your fine work is appreciated. I am in awe, year after year, over what you are able to capture on film, and am thrilled to have collected such wonderful documentation of my beautiful nieces as they blossom over time. Sincerely, THANK YOU for your extrordinary gift!!” Wow, that felt really good.  Did you catch the film part?  Yes, I’m a film and darkroom shooter/printer.  Though now a days I do both film and digital.  Love them both.  But really, the gift here is Claudia, Clara and their mom.  Hey Becky, that’s you!  Thank you, you sweet ladies down the road.  I don’t want this to ever end!  I’m going to go cry now, but they’re happy tears.

Claudia, I wish you all the best and fully expect you to come back up North each year to finish out Clara’s remaining sessions with me!

Love to you all, K.

And now, the sweet and equally beautiful, Clara

Even though Mark and Linda are getting married in our beautiful Napa Valley, I suggested we meet somewhere in between, in another gorgeous wine region, Suisun Valley.  I know, far to few of us know about this little gem.  Earlier this year, I had photographed a wedding for the Vezer Family, who own and operate wineries in three locations in Suisun Valley.  I believe I mentioned something like this before, in my post about that wedding here, but I have to say it again, I’ve never met a more gracious family than the Vezer’s.  When I said that I was heading over to their part of the woods to photograph Mark and Linda’s engagement session, Liz Vezer said “I’ll make sure Frank is here and he’ll do a barrel tasting for your couple and give them a tour of the sites”.  This was the most amazing engagement session.  Mark and Linda were floored by the hospitality they received from the Vezers.  Frank Vezer, the owner of the winery, pulled out all the stops and we all had such a wonderful time.  Of course, I didn’t do any tasting!  That would not have been so good for my focusing, me thinks, ha, ha!  However, because I could not partake, Frank sent me home with a bottle of their over-the-top 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon.  Yum!

Mark, Linda, I’m beyond thrilled that you chose me to be your photographer.  I can’t wait for your wedding this weekend, it’s going to be fabulous!  Thanks so much for your kind comments throughout these past several months leading up to your very special day.  I think the world of you both.

Three.more.days!

Couldn’t help myself, had to start with this image.  Where it all began folks.  Prom 1978.

We had a little fun with some updated Prom posturing.

Onto our tour and tasting.  Very dim, yet beautiful light in the barrel room with Frank Vezer pouring.

After a bit of tasting, we ventured upstairs to this richly decorated room above the barrel room.  You can look out over the barrel room from here.  Some pretty stellar views of the grounds and vines/hills too.  When weddings are held at The Blue Victorian, it’s also a favored place for ‘the getting ready’ for the girls.

Well, needs no explanation.

Moved onto the surrounding beautiful countryside.  Just breathtaking scenery.

And, here we are, 33 years later.  It’s not Prom, but I think a wedding is pretty exciting.  Cheers!

As a mom of two teen boys in our school district, I can tell you that there are no words to express my gratitude for everyone involved with this event.  My husband and I been always been involved with schools that require parent participation and volunteer hours.  We have done everything from simple classroom participation; helping the teachers with anything they need, to science presentations (my husband is a sweet geek), we’ve helped build playgrounds (funded by the awesome Kiwanis Club!) and beautiful gardens, participate and start artist’s programs for the children, the list goes on.  We are just two out of many, many people who do this every day.  And I will say, we’re still needed.  More than ever, in fact.  The schools need our support, the kids need our support.  Everyone wins when we participate.  I’m sure you’re all familiar with the staggering and heartbreaking cuts that we keep getting hit with in education.  Now is the time, the race for eduction doesn’t stop here.  Please keep supporting our educators and schools.  And to all of you that I saw on race day, THANK YOU!

And now, here’s little slideshow featuring some of the images from that incredibly fun day.  Please head over to Kathi Cook Photography’s facebook page hereto see over 200 images from the day.  And, if you like them, ‘like’ me as well, I always appreciate new fans.  Here it is, have fun and keep moving!  Well, one more plug here, goRiver School, go Napa!  Hey, I am a proud mom right?  Yes!

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]]> http://kathicookphotography.com/the-race-for-education-powered-by-napafit-benefiting-the-napa-valley-education-foundation/feed/ 0 http://kathicookphotography.com/the-blue-victorian-winery-marco-cassies-wedding/ http://kathicookphotography.com/the-blue-victorian-winery-marco-cassies-wedding/#comments Wed, 20 Apr 2011 05:07:55 +0000 admin http://kathicookphotography.com/?p=1362 This was an unforgettable wedding on so many levels.  The venue was out of this world stunning.  It was held at one of Cassie’s family’s wineries, The Blue Victorian .  It is a nearly century-old landmark in Suisun Valley, that has been restored by it’s owners, the proud parents of the bride, Frank and Liz Vezer, of  The Vezer Family Vineyards.  Friends and family came from all over the globe to attend this happiest of occasions.  Guests traveled from as far away as Canada and Hungary.  Let me just say right now, I live in Wine Country, Napa Valley.  However, I really was not so much aware of my neighbor, Suisun Valley, in terms of wine making.  I was, simply put, blown out of the water when I discovered this beautiful setting that is The Vezer Family experience.  It is truly some of the most remarkable wine I’ve ever had.  And the setting in which their wonderful wineries live, spectacular.  I’m so grateful to have been invited into the lives of these lovely people.  Something you find out pretty quickly when you are getting to know the Vezers: ‘we are family’.  And that is not just a phrase.  Cassie and Marco have such a grounded, loving family.  In a day and time when we all live so fast, it was refreshing to witness first-hand, their love of family, extended-family (and there were many!) and their many, many friends.  I’ll repeat myself to those who were at this wedding, I’ve never seen so many beautiful and elegantly dressed people in one place at the same time.

It was such a gift to be a part of this beautiful day.  Thank you for showing me such a wonderful time and making me part of your family.  It is not possible to be with the Vezers and not feel loved.

Enjoy!

This was a hard post to put together though because there are so many images from this day.  These girls just don’t take anything but gorgeous pictures.  We got together on a pretty warm Fall day in November.  We had an unbelievably hot November here.  Everything had this surreal feeling to it.  The colors were still exploding, the light was low and beautiful, the wind would kick up and whip their beautiful hair around at just the right time.  We were together until dark, shooting, laughing, talking.  It was great.  I felt so energized.  As we were walking back to my car to load up and go home, we were talking about Bailey’s new coolio car, the fact that next year I’ll also be photographing her senior pictures (I’m privileged, it’s true), discussing with Addie, our fiery middle-child, who is one of my all time favorite girls, the last outdoor ed trip she went on in Southern California, and just generally giggling with Lindy, my little Sprite!  It was a very good day.  Really, can’t think of anything I’d rather do than photograph families and these kids as they grow up.  Every age is so special and there’s always going to be special moments and connections to document in this beautiful medium called photography.  I’m thrilled that I get to do it.

And, in the order of appearance, let’s get on with the show.  Oh yeah, I felt like mixing it up a bit here and there.  Hope it’s not too distracting switching out from color, to various black and white impressions, folks.  Thanks all.

Hope to see you there!